Binge-drinking 12-year-olds go to school hung over
Thursday 14th October 2010, 2:30PM BST.
(Picture posed by model)
UNDERAGE drinking is blighting the Bailiwick with children as young as 12 going to school with hangovers.
The problem has seen one Guernsey policeman having to take around 30 teenagers home to their parents in the last 12 months.
And at a Police/Public Consultative Group meeting in Alderney a teacher from St Anne’s School called on officers to help stop children drinking huge quantities at weekends.
St Anne’s teacher Jim Phillips said: ‘A lot of our students are getting drunk at weekends and turning up to school with hangovers.’
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At last. Someone has finally mentioned the unbelievable problem we have in Guernsey with underage drinking. The first responsibility lies with the parents – do they have no idea where their children are? When they come home can they not tell they have been drinking? It is very easy in Guernsey to get served in town when you are under 18. The teenagers know exactly which bars to go to and many of them carry false ID’s. Added to the fact that many of these kids are so incredibly drunk that they often have no idea how they got home, who they went home with or even what they did. They drink very powerful spirits and seem to delight in boasting about how drunk they were. Town at the week-end is a nightmare and if you don’t believe me walk through it at midnight and see for yourself what is going on. My wife and I had the misfortune recently to do it – it was shameful. The consequences for the Police, the Doctors and ultimately the youngsters with destroyed livers is something we should all be very concerned about. It impacts on us all. The standard of morals in these drunk teenagers is also causing a major problem for the health authorities on the island. It is a small place and reputations are easily ruined. I have three teenagers of my own who thankfully have some sense and who find the behaviour of their peers very alarming. How pro-active are the Police? What exactly are they doing about it? Why are the Doctors and Nurses who pick up the pieces not creating a fuss? Drinking underage has a massive consequence on your future health – teenagers are not invincible! The Guernsey Press should follow this story up on a regular basis.
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Yes underage drinking is a problem! And i dont think you can say it starts with the parents, i had quite strict parents growing up and had early curfews went to a private school excellent up bringing but still found myself doing things like this! It is experimenting and falling into the wrong crowd. While hanging round with a certain crowd i found myself getting into a lot of trouble resulting in grounding but as their parents werent strict i was always under pressure to “be cool”. I certainly know that if everybody in the group was doing something(even though i wasnt being peer pressured as such) i still felt if i didnt i wouldnt be accepted or “cool”. Alot of it does come down to peer Pressure but i certainly wouldnt put the blame on the parents! Every child/teenager experiments, it just so happens that with the little to do on Guernsey the age is getting lower! This is never going to stop and people need to realise that. Instead of trying to make it stop try and put some control over it! And what are the police going to about it? Well what can they do really, how are they going to know that a bottle of vodka (or whatever beverage) was taken out of their parents alcohol cabinet and is being secretly drank in the child’s bedroom?or being snuck out the house to an “innocent” sleepover at a freinds house!
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This is a tricky one. I have to say I never experimented, but that was largely due to becoming engrossed in a particular sport and got my kicks and identity out of that, along with the confidence to accept that it wouldn’t necessarily be cool.
I have to say though, I don’t have much truck with catergorising what goes on as “experimenting”. Kids know it’s wrong, but do it anyway. That’s not experimenting.
You don’t find the same kids putting their hands in an open fire or driving head first into a wall or locking themselves in a fridge etc as an experiment. They don’t need to because they know it will hurt them.
To be honest, what they need to know is that their behaviour will hurt them. Whether that be shock tactics, bringing in manky livers to school, or alcoholics, or people with HIV or parents dishing out punishments that matter/can be made to stick (hard I know) to holding kids back in school etc – things that will hurt them (but not physically!)
That’s basically, very basically, then only way to get going on this. Oh, and point them towards more constructive uses of time – but they should be able to see those things for themselves…. that’s another can of squirms
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This is a load of rubbish… firstly what 12 year old knows what a hangover is? I know I never got one at that age, and yes I did drink in excess quite often! The only effects in the morning are being tired from lack of sleep after partying hard for most of the night.
I’m in agreement with Catherine, it’s not going to stop happening, and everyone does it. It is part of growing up! Experimenting. Let the kids live their lives, and as they grow up, hey they might regret it, but they might learn something too. But that’s down to them anyway.
Next thing there’ll be cameras attached to everyone’s foreheads to show exactly what they’re doing, with who, and at every moment.
But still… one word describes this article and it’s too rude to write here. So I’ll simply put RUBBISH
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Catherine – I appreciate what you say. It takes a very strong person to go ‘against’ the crowd. I wasn’t totally blaming parents (that was directed more to the very young ones mentioned in the paper). However, having said that parents do need to guide their teenagers on the right path even if it means being un-popular. It is our role as parents even if it causes friction. What I do object to is the constant moan that there is nothing to do in Guernsey. It makes me laugh. What do you think teenagers do on the mainland that they can not do here – unless it costs money of course. Just about every sport and hobby is represented in Guernsey in some fashion. I agree we could do with more facilities but if there were youth clubs etc the teenagers would not go anyway because it is not ‘cool’. Finally, my parents would have known if I had stolen alcohol from their house so parents have no excuse.
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Findsitfunny, all I can say about your comment is this.
Your first six words sum it up quite adequately.
With comments like this I find it hard to believe that you are not actually one of the 12 year olds yourself.
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Funny thing is, this article was mainly based around Alderney but GP managed to slip in Bailiwick.
I believe underage drinking has always happened, years ago alcohol would only be sold in bars and off licenses, now you can simply purchase it in your local supermarket.
Years ago you’d also drive home extremely intoxicated, although I disagree with 12 year olds getting drunk.
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Surely the question should be where are the kids getting the booze from ???
i suggest from shop keepers and bar owners who have NO morals and will sell to enough as l;ongas their tills are full of cash
about time some places are closed down
And surely parents must notice if their 12 year old comes home ratted surely we should be taken them to court for child neglect
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Findsitfunny
Your post is rubbish
Ofcourse you can get a hangover at 12 years old and any other age for that matter, and yes i`ve had a few.
Not everyone does it either.
If you think kids of that age drinking heavely is part of growing up then i`d hate to hear the advise you give to them.
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Sadly, “Findsitfunny” has unwittingly hit the nail on the head. He/she said;
“it’s not going to stop happening, and everyone does it. It is part of growing up”
- getting paralytic on Diamond White is not my idea of growing up- More like practicing how to be a tramp- but then there are so many adults actively deciding to lead “pickled” lifestyles on the island, who are we to point the figure at how our children are behaving?
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It’s not good blaming parents alone – as a community we must accept collective responsibility.
No matter how hard parents try, they are battling a culture that considers excessive drunkenness a badge of honour. I have lost count of the times I have heard people from all different backgrounds (from teenagers to businessmen on flights) bragging about things like puking or being incapable of walking as though it was something to be proud of. What many cultures would consider shameful and a sign of weakness, as a culture we revel in.
What we need is a cultural shift in our attitudes towards alcohol. Perhaps if, as a culture, we all started to demonstrate the sensible enjoyment of alcohol, we may eventually see a shift in attitudes.
Until that time, it’s a case of “monkey see, monkey do” – kids see their older peers and adults getting lashed then bragging about it to their mates and simply follow suit. You can’t really blame them for that.
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oh for goodness sake………!
its not the kids faults, does anyone have the slightest ideas on the psychology of addiction, truama and self medication……….obviously not, this is not a case of telling kids to drink orange juice instead…..
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Problem is, we have a cycle of life, parents of today were yesteryears fun time party goers who enjoy a night on the tiles. Today they probable prefer a nice bottle of wine of an evening, but still they enjoy a tipple, children replicate behaviour, if they see you drink, they will want to drink, if they hear stories of when you were a young un and used to be able to downa pint in 1 min flat and neck approx half a bottle of vodka, then they will try to emulate.
Educate, dont berate the youngsters.
This article stemmed from Aldreney, a place where it is unwritten law that underagers can drink in 1 establishemnt, so long as they stick to that rule and not try to go to other places, they are allowed to drink in peace, fact! No one party is to blame but everyone has to shoulder some of the responsibility and share in the solution!
Now where did I leave my pint?
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Peter – excellent point.
I think we all fall into the trap of getting all hung up on externals – WHAT people are doing – instead of focusing on WHY they are doing it.
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This is easily remedied, give the kids a couple of can of Stella in the morning, works for me.
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the amount of times i have stepped out my house to walk to the garage and being harassed by a group of 11-12 year olds to buy them cigarettes/alcohol is unbelievable. And i wouldn’t be suprised if people/older friends/older family members would actually buy the booze for the kids! Im not saying i agree with kids at this age drinking but it will keep happening, my kids, their kids, their kids.. etc etc, there just needs to be a better system in place to make it harder for the purchase of the alcohol
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Until recently I would’ve assumed this was an exaggeration of the facts.
It IS bad parenting, as a follow on from more bad parenting. In a spiral that will probably get worse, starting from the ‘childhood is sacred’ era.
People used to be apprenticed at 13, often younger. And that was after having jobs & responsibilities in the home from the moment they could walk.
Over the last 40 years or so kids have been brought up like badly trained dogs: no idea of their place in the pack, either indulged & cosseted or just neglected, but either way not expected to pull their weight. They leave home with no idea of how to be a responsible adult.
And when those ‘kids’ go on to have kids they can’t pass on skills they don’t have. So if their little darlings are out roaming the streets, boozing and fighting, well it’s not Their responsibility is it? Because they have none.
We could do with Army-style parenting classes.
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I’m mainly saying my bit out of previous experiences.
I did do the whole “drinking in excess”, but I learned from it and grew out of it. I barely drink at all now I’m a bit older (only early 20′s).
I’m not saying every 12year old will be the same. Just that I was able to realise I was the one being stupid.
Some parents are to blame, as some would willingly buy us alcohol without us hardly asking. But mine didn’t, they would punish me for it, and yes, that did help me stop “drinking in excess underage”.
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MrsMeat for me says it how I see the root of issues right now. A major change in expectations of youth.
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I am sorry a child going to school hungover at 12 years old, of course the parents have to take the flak and be more aware of what their child is up to.
We were no angels as kids I can assure you, but 12 years old, where are the parents I asked a policeman on the very subject, his reply was “out doing the same as them”, I rest my case.
Trouble is some of the parents are so wound up in all the modern day stresses of life, the children have to accept whatever life chucks at them, very sad where is it all going to end?
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Yes, of course, the parents of these binge drinking kids should take much more responsibility; but, lets face it, the children themselves should be taking more responsibility for their own lives too. They know it is not right or sensible to drink loads of shots when they have school the next day. It’s not rocket science.
In addition, there must also be more responsible selling of alcohol all round. The pubs, clubs and supermarkets must all take their share of the blame. Selling alcohol to kids underage is a criminal offence and there should be much better enforcement of existing laws. When was the last time that a bar or club or shop lost its licence in Guernsey for serving people underage? The pubs et al are the ones making profits on the back of this problematic drinking. I should also add that the young adults who ply the younger kids with drink should also be blamed.
However, lets not get entirely away from the fact that there is something deeply ingrained in our cultural make up that seems to encourage and / or excuse binge drinking from an early age. What does that say about our society? Guernsey is, by most measures, a pretty good place to live, a beautiful place with decades of economic growth and more or less full employment behind it. Why then is there this perceived need for kids (and adults too) to get totally inebriated on booze quite so regularly? What is it that they have missing in their lives? (To my mind, as an aside, it might be something to do with the fundamentally hollow nature of materialism & consumerism.)
Town is swiftly becoming a “no go zone” for many people. The Press is always full of criminal cases which seem to have resulted from alcohol misuse, many of them involving extreme levels of violence, like the recent attempted robbery at Valnord Hill. Lets start taking collective responsibility for this cultural problem; because it is going to require deep-seated cultural change to alleviate it in the long run.
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Chris – I started this thread and I am pleased to see your sensible comments at the end of it. I could not agree with you more. Collectively we all have to try and get better enforcement of existing laws. When I was a teenager the pubs/clubs were often ‘raided’ by the police looking for underage drinkers. How often does this happen now? Perhaps a few more raids on certain establishments is what we need. If it is an offence to be drunk in a public place then clamp down on it – arrest a few! Being drunk should not be seen as a badge of honour especially not by the youngsters parents! Quite often the Police ask parents to come and collect their ‘child’ and the parents can’t because they have been drinking themselves! Shame on you. Set an example.
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You only have to see the amount of wine bottles being recycled to spot where the root of the problem lies, the parents. Sitting at home knocking back glasses of wine in the evenings before going to bed half cut. Its no wonder that their children will copy because, to them, its quite normal.
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Well, as long as the 12 year olds arent walking the 5 year olds to school then we are fine no??
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I know of a ‘teacher’ (she calls herself one) who has a teenage daughter which she BUYS alcohol for AND has teenagers in her house partying of a weekend, whilst the ‘teacher’ is out taking legal highs!
FACT
What hope is there for any kids if the teachers are so weak!
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Nothing legal about ‘Legal Highs’ anymore!
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At the end of the day, teenagers will always get drunk and I think that this will be almost impossible to stop. Its all part of growing up.
When I was that age i’d say the vast majority of class mates, including myself, went out and drunk to excess.
When teenagers see those they look up to getting drunk, they will follow suit.
The simple fact is that no matter how many activities there are to do outside of school (not a great deal in Alderney) teenagers will always drink because they are probably having fun, I no I certainly did!!
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Barry
If what you say is indeed FACT and not just tittle -tattle I hope you have passed on your concerns to the Education Department
They’re in the phone book
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okay im 14 years of age and dont bother giving me the whole speech i know its wrong to be drinking alchohol at my age and i dont live in Geurnsey but id just like to say a few things on behalf of parents and kids okay 1st stop blaming parents i stay at my aunties most weekends im drinking anyway but on behalf of all, parents we can put on good sober acts when we need and anyway most kids go straight to their rooms 2nd we dont get served we get randoms outside a shop to go in 3rd im not being pressured into it or feel like i need to because my friends are ive been with friends when theyr smoking weed i dont do it! and lastly if i was to get caught id be in so much trouble so if anyone thinks that if you dont get caught your parents arent strict you wrong as i said i stay at my aunties i would never get away with it at my own house
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They don’t need no education. Damn skippy.
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14 year old
I dont think anyone will give you the whole speech as you seem to know it all already. And that is where the trouble starts,
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